Five or six cars passed before one pulled over next to where Marilyn was standing. The window rolled down and Marilyn saw a familiar face in the driver's side.

"Hey, Marilyn! What are you doing out here? Your dad has been looking all over for you! He's worried sick, it seems."

It was one of Marilyn's dad's friends, Tom. Tom wasn't one of her dad's drinking friends, in fact, Marilyn wasn't even sure Tom knew about her dad's excessive drinking.

"Hi Tom. I was... just... well, I really don't know what I'm doing out here."

Marilyn loved Tom. He was like the father she never had; a sober one that didn't beat her and actually cared for her.

"Well, where you headed? I'll give you a ride."

Marilyn got in the passenger's side. "I'm not going anywhere, really." She stated.

"Oh, well then I better take you home."

"No, you can't take me there! You can't take me back, please!"

"Well, I guess I could take you back to my house... But your father has been worried about you. He's been looking all over for you. He'd like to have you home."

"I can't stay there."

"I know you're already nineteen and want to get out of the house, be independent and all but I can't just leave you out on the street."

"But why can't I stay over your house?"

"Like I said, your father's been looking for you and we already have company. I don't know how well the wife would handle another person in the house, teenager no less. I'm sorry. I just don't understand, though, why you really don't want to go home."

"Long story..."

The rest of the drive was silent. They pulled up to Marilyn's house.

"There you are. Tell John I said hi, alright?"

Marilyn nodded and got out of the car. Tom drove away, leaving her with no other choice but to walk up the pathway and face the monster on the other side of the door. Each step she took was slower than the last one. She reached the door and lightly knocked. She heard angry footsteps approach the door. The knob turned and the door flew open to reveal her father standing there in the doorway.

"Ah, well look who decided to come back."

Marilyn didn't say anything.

"You are in huge trouble. Get inside."

She did as told and headed for her room but a large, muscular hand took hold of her arm and spun her around. The first hit is always the worst. After a few, you become numb to the pain and all you wish is for it to be over.

He's gripping tighter saying 'You will burn in hell, they say, you will burn in hell.'

Marilyn received the worst beating she's ever gotten before. She went back to her room with tears in her eyes. She sat on her bed and watched the bruises form as the blood flowed from her nose. She went to the window, pulled back the curtain and saw iron bars over her windows. A note was taped to the window:

There's no way you're getting away now.
Love, Dad
She crumpled up the note and threw it on the ground. She stomped on it and flung herself on the bed. She started to cry harder and harder. She almost didn't feel her phone vibrating. She picked it up and saw one new message from Ronnie and one new message from Andy. She opened the message from Ronnie first:

Hey, how you doing? Find somewhere to stay? If you decide to come back, our bus is always available.

I can't stay here. Please save me. To Ronnie: Yeah I found a place and I'm doing just fine. Haven't decided if I want to come back yet but will let you know. :)

Lies. All of it.

Then she looked at the text from Andy:

Please come back, Marilyn. I'm sorry about everything I said. I'm willing to forgive and forget. Please just come back. I miss you. I love you.

I love you.